June 1, 2011The Citizens Bank CeeBee Savers Club is kicking off summer fun with a party at Riverside Park in Batesville from 3-6 p.m. Thursday.The free public event will include CeeBee, the bee, bounce houses, face painting, slip ’n’ slide, hot dogs and drinks. Children are urged to wear their swimsuits.

June 1, 2011CAVE CITY — The Cave City School District will be serving breakfast and a snack to each student during its summer school program starting Monday, free to all students, said food service director Elaine Nix.Summer school will be from Monday through June 24, she said.“Breakfast will be served at the elementary cafeteria from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and at the high school from 8:45 a.m. to 9 a.m., with a snack provided at a later time,” Nix said.

June 1, 2011SULPHUR ROCK — The annual city-wide cleanup in Sulphur Rock will take place Saturday, said Mayor Glenda Reding.She said to put items to be taken in front of the houses and a truck will pick it up.No tires will or wood will be accepted. Wood can be burned, she said.

June 1, 2011There will be no written or driving tests given Friday in Batesville, according to Arkansas State Police examiner Jim Howard. Tests, which are given each Thursday and Friday in Batesville, will resume their regular schedule June 9.

June 1, 2011MOUNTAIN VIEW — Blanchard Springs Caverns offers summer interpretive activities at the Blanchard Springs Recreation Area with different topics highlighted each week, according to a news release.Activities include outdoor amphitheater programs present-ed at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, day and/or night programs on Thursdays, and guided walks at 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays. Most programs are held at or near the amphitheater, located near the picnic area at the base of Sandfield Bluff. This week’s topic is caves, and programs are:

June 1, 2011A little over a year ago Judge Chaney Taylor’s District Court was the first of several county offices to switch to a new computer system designed to connect all facets of law enforcement with the courts in Independence County. About the same time the Independence County Sheriff’s Metro Division hired a traffic control officer to be assigned to the city as a means of slowing motorists down and thus reducing accidents on city streets.

May 31, 2011Two Newport individuals were rescued Saturday when they attempted to drive through a flooded roadway.According to a report by Independence County Deputy Darin Brewer, 29-year-old Keith Dewhitt and 28-year-old Leah Dewhitt of Newport tried to drive though the water from Big Bottom slough, but the water was running too fast and deep across Padgett Island Road.Brewer said the two tried to exit their Mazda truck that was submerged in water, but were unable to get to dry land.

May 31, 2011Melissa Martin never knows exactly what she’ll be facing, from day to day. She might go into a client’s home and the client does not remember her. They might be cranky or combative, or they might be in a good mood. They might be wearing the wrong clothes. They might not remember they should bathe.As a home care aide, Martin has probably seen it all, but she doesn’t regret her choice of career. In fact, she’s quite attached to the clients, who are more like family.“You get close,” Martin said.

May 31, 2011A proposed concession stand to replace one that burned at the Batesville North Complex last winter is still in the conceptual design phase.The restroom and concession stand was destroyed in a nighttime fire on Dec. 27, and Mayor Rick Elumbaugh told the city council last week that the city collected nearly $62,000 in insurance — considerably more than it had expected at the time.

May 31, 2011Backing his pickup truck along a county road Saturday afternoon resulted in a Southside man’s death when he struck a road sign and a power pole, Independence County Sheriff’s Deputy Gary Franks said.The driver was identified as Jerry Vandiver, 63, of 130 Swaim Hill Road in the Southside community. Vandiver’s 2008 Chevrolet pickup was facing southbound on Chism Trail Road, but was actually traveling in reverse (northbound), Franks said.